It is nine months since the first
Syrian family arrived to a new life in Cardigan. Fleeing war in Syria they had
spent three years among the millions of refugees in Lebanon. Muhanad says ”Then
we could not imagine any future for our children, now they have a future again.
We are very happy and we say thank you to everyone.”
The children have many friends in
school and around their home. They speak better Welsh than English so they and
their friends play in Welsh together. Their father has done work
experience with a variety of businesses: a restaurant, cafe, with a carpenter,
growing organic vegetables and in a charity shop. Now he has applied to college
so that he can improve his practical skills to get a full time job.
Karwan spent a year in Cardigan
volunteering for two charities as a translator and attending Coleg Ceredigion
where he received a special award for outstanding personal achievement. He came
to help us as soon as he got refugee status after fleeing Iraq and a depressing
year in a UK dispersal house. Coleg Ceredigion helped him get into
Cardiff University to study his chosen branch of engineering to continue his
career back in Iraq, which was his dream. Croeso Teifi, the sponsoring charity gave
him a set of barber equipment. He is now working full time as a barber and
saving for university.
The fact that the family and Karwen have
had such a successful integration is down to the incredible understanding and
warmth of people, businesses and institutions in the town. The volunteers of
Croeso Teifi deliver and manage the work as a tireless and dedicated team. We
also liaise with the Authorities, sit on the public partnership with the
statutory bodies and liaise with the Home Office.
A new team are now planning to sponsor
a second family. Anyone living in Cardigan who wishes to help should get in
touch. It will take some months as there are practical preparations and
permissions to get.
Other towns or villages wishing to form
a group to sponsor should get in touch. We can offer a lot of help and
guidance.
Croeso Teifi will have a stand at
Cardigan Agricultural Show which is on Saturday 4th August. And
you will find us at Cardigan Carnival on Saturday August 11th.
Croeso Teifi Facebook page
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